Get a dump of the whole system information - Prints, Saves or similar the current state of the package management system. Preferred output is text or XML. One version of rug dumps information as a sqlite database. (Note: Why either-or here? No tool offers the option to choose the output format.)

apt-cache stats

rug dump

n/a

Show all or most information about a package. The tools\' verbosity for the default command vary. But with options, the tools are on par with each other.

yum list or info

apt-cache showpkg apt-cache show

rug info

zypper info

Search for package(s) by searching the expression in name, description, short description. What exact fields are being searched by default varies in each tool. Mostly options bring tools on par.

yum search

apt-cache search

rug search

zypper search

Lists packages which have an update available. Note: Some provide special commands to limit the output to certain installation sources, others use options.

yum list updates yum check-update

apt-get upgrade -> n

rug list-updates rug summary

zypper list-updates zypper patch-check (just for patches)

Display a list of all packages in all installation sources that are handled by the packages management. Some tools provide options or additional commands to limit the output to a specific installation source.

apt-cache dumpavail apt-cache dump (Cache only) apt-cache pkgnames

rug packages

IN PROGRESS

Displays packages which provide the given exp. aka reverse provides. Mainly a shortcut to search a specific field. Other tools might offer this functionality through the search command.

pacman -Qo

yum whatprovides yum provides

apt (dpkg / grep)

rug what-provides

IN PROGRESS

Display packages which require X to be installed, aka show reverse dependencies. rug\'s what-requires can operate on more than just package names.

yum resolvedep

apt-cache rdepends

rug what-requires

IN PROGRESS

Display packages which conflict with given expression (often package). Search can be used as well to mimic this function. rug\'s what-conflicts function operates on more than just package names

rug info-conflicts rug what-conflicts

IN PROGRESS

List all packages which are required for the given package, aka show dependencies.

yum deplist

apt-cache depends

rug info-requirements

IN PROGRESS

List what the current package provides

pkgfile?

yum provides

rug info-provides

IN PROGRESS

List the files that the package holds. Again, this functionality can be mimicked by other more complex commands.

yum provides

rug* file-list

IN PROGRESS

Search all packages to find the one which holds the specified file. auto-apt is using this functionality.

yum provides yum whatprovides

apt-file

rug* package-file rug what-provides

IN PROGRESS

Display all packages that the specified packages obsoletes.

yum list obsoletes

apt-cache / grep

rug info-obsoletes

IN PROGRESS

Verify dependencies of the complete system. Used if installation process was forcefully killed.

yum deplist

apt-get check ? apt-cache unmet

rug verify rug* dangling-requires

n/a

Generates a list of installed packages

pacman -Q

yum list installed

apt-cache --installed

n/a

List packages that are installed but are not available in any installation source (anymore).

yum list extras

n/a

List packages that were recently added to one of the installation sources, i.e. which are new to it. Note: Synaptic has this functionality, however apt doesn\'t seem to be the provider.

yum list recent

n/a

Show a log of actions taken by the software management.

rug history

n/a

Clean up all local caches. Options might limit what is actually cleaned. Autoclean removes only unneeded, obsolete information.

yum clean

apt-cache clean apt-cache autoclean

n/a

Add a local package to the local package cache mostly for debugging purposes.

apt-cache add

n/a

Display the source package to the given package name(s)

apt-cache showsrc

n/a

Generates an output suitable for processing with dotty for the given package(s).

apt-cache dotty

n/a

Set the priority of the given package to avoid upgrade, force downgrade or to overwrite any default behavior. Can also be used to prefer a package version from a certain installation source.

/etc/apt/preferences smart priority –set

n/a

Remove a previously set priority

/etc/apt/preferences smart priority --remove

n/a

Show a list of set priorities.

apt-cache policy /etc/apt/preferences smart priority --show

n/a

Ignores problems that priorities may trigger.

n/a

Installation sources management

Add an installation source to the system. Some tools provide additional commands for certain sources, others allow all types of source URI for the add command. Again others, like apt and yum force editing a sources list. apt-cdrom is a special command, which offers special options design for CDs/DVDs as source.

apt-cdrom add

rug service-add rug mount /local/dir

zypper service-add

Refresh the information about the specified installation source(s) or all installation sources.

pacman -y ...Sy ?

yum check-update

apt-get update

rug refresh

zypper refresh

Prints a list of all installation sources including important information like URI, alias etc.